Chapter 2 - First Day Chronicles

Aria's POV

“Ray Sinclair,” someone murmured from behind me. Curious, I turned around, only to see a tall, masculine guy with messy hair explaining his ambitions. But my attention got stuck elsewhere—Sinclair sounded way too much like eclair. I know, it’s childish to laugh at someone’s name, but Mr. Eclair? The irony is, I’m allergic to eclairs! One bite, and I’m down with a cold and cough. Hilarious, right?

To make things more absurd, the guy sitting next to him was Elio—yes, the same guy who called me rude. He had this grating voice, talking about his aspirations like anyone was dying to hear it. Honestly, no one cared.

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Ray's POV

When my turn came, I introduced myself, and the girl sitting ahead of me suddenly turned and started staring. It wasn’t unusual for a girl to look at me, but something about this one—Miss Aria Carrington, or as my mind immediately dubbed her, Miss Carry—was unsettling. She was laughing, and I couldn’t figure out why. Did I say something wrong?

Later, when Elio was done describing himself, I leaned in and asked, “Did I say something stupid enough for her to laugh at?”

He smirked and said, “Oh, her? That’s the same girl I bumped into this morning. She was standing near the boys’ washroom, acting all rude. Who even does that? Maybe she’s the kind who stares at boys or something.”

I wanted to defend her, but why should I? Elio’s my childhood friend, and she’s just a stranger. But still, why was I thinking about Miss Carry so much? Me and my mindless thoughts…

Suddenly, someone called out in the most annoying voice on the planet. “Hellooowww, Ray!” Of course, it was Marie.

“Hiii, Marie. How are you?” I replied, forcing a smile.

“I’m fine. But you’ve stopped talking to me and barely even look at me now. Did I do something wrong?” she asked in the cheesiest tone imaginable.

I didn’t even bother listening; my attention was drawn to a muffled laugh nearby. Still, I replied, “Oh, no, Marie, I’ve just been… busy.”

In my head, though, I was screaming, No, Marie, I’m ignoring you on purpose! What kind of glue are you using to stick to me this much?

Marie, oblivious, said, “Okay, I’ll be sitting over there. If you need anything, just ask, okay?”

“Yeah, sure,” I said with fake enthusiasm.

Elio leaned over, smirking. “Looks like someone needs help, huh?”

“Shut it, Elio. I don’t like her. I just tolerate her because she’s my neighbor. Honestly, if you’re interested, just tell her and save me the trouble.”

“No way, man. I’m good being single,” Elio chuckled.

Meanwhile, laughter from somewhere continued, probably directed at my awkward encounter with Marie. The professor had stepped out for some formalities, giving everyone the freedom to chatter.

Aria’s POV

The conversations going on behind me were downright hilarious. I was trying to control my laughter, but how could I? For the first time, I saw a guy ignoring a girl’s blatant flirting. Usually, girls only flirt when they’re welcomed, but this? This was new.

Ivy, sitting beside me, sighed. “The professor is taking forever to come back. It’s so boring.”

“Let’s take pictures!” I suggested. She agreed, and we clicked a bunch of selfies. But then I noticed something odd—Mr. Eclair and his friend were peeping into our photos.

I turned and shot them a look, but Elio didn’t hold back. “And what about you eavesdropping on our conversations and laughing? Hypocrite much?”

I felt slightly embarrassed but brushed it off. I’m not the type to stay silent. To my surprise, Ivy wasn’t either. “We can’t exactly shut our ears, blud,” she retorted.

Ray jumped in, “And we can’t move our seats, so maybe take your pictures from an angle where we’re not in them.”

I was about to reply when, the professor walked in. Part of me wanted to thank him for saving me from the brewing argument, but another part of me wished he hadn’t interrupted. I had a killer comeback ready.

The day unspooled in moments—laughter echoing through the hallways, sneakers squeaking against the polished floors, and the steady hum of first-day nerves that felt oddly comforting. Between Ivy snapping selfies and my accidental clash of words with Mr. Eclair and his friend, I found myself smiling more than I expected.

The argument wasn’t exactly a fight, but the kind of sharp exchange that left my cheeks warm and my mind replaying it in loops. A satisfying thrill hummed under the surface, like I’d won a game I hadn’t planned on playing. College wasn’t perfect, but it felt alive—messy and chaotic, yet strangely full of promise.

Right now, though, I just want to crash somewhere—anywhere that feels comfortable enough to rest. Not necessarily home, because let’s be real, home can be a bit of a drag sometimes. Comfortable? Sure. But it sucks the life out of me too often. I just need a moment to breathe.

But I don’t really have that kind of place, so for now, my escape is simple: me, my bed, my earpods, Spotify, and the notes where I pour my soul into poems. It’s not much, but it’s mine—a little corner of calm in the chaos, where I can breathe, reflect, and let the world melt away for a while.

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